Washing Mushrooms

Susan Westmoreland sheds light on the myth about washing mushrooms.

Can I wash mushrooms?

— Arielle Verinis, Malibu, CA

Yes! At cooking school the mantra was "never let water touch mushrooms because they will absorb it." One day, annoyed at the growing pile of stained paper towels from prepping a large, dirt-laden batch, I took the plunge and rinsed the mushrooms in a colander using my faucet spray. A couple of swishes later they were clean — in a fraction of my usual wiping time. After blotting with a paper towel, I weighed them and found they were no heavier. I later learned that mushrooms are over 92 percent water, so even if they absorb a bit, they won't change texture — and you can cook off any excess in less time than it takes to clean them individually.